Now, the Palisade you see here isn’t even the first hotel on this site. Back in the 1870s, a man named James Parle owned the land, and by 1880, a three-story brick hotel had popped up here. Henry Taylor ran it until 1911 - and I’ll bet he could tell a few tales if these walls could talk! But Sydney was changing fast. After a rough dance with the bubonic plague at the turn of the century, the city basically needed a fresh start. The population was bouncing back, dockyards were thriving, and the demand for a pint - or maybe three - shot up. Enter the Sydney Harbour Trust. Not wanting Millers Point to go dry, they built four new hotels to keep the port workers and locals refreshed and spirited. The Palisade was their crown jewel, opening its doors in 1916.
Picture those early days: the scent of fresh timber and brick dust fills the air, as five sweeping stories emerge from the ground, crowned with a rooftop big enough for drying laundry - or the occasional rooftop party, perhaps? The ground floor boasted a sprawling U-shaped bar, complete with a jug and bottle department (because even in 1916, takeaways were important!). There were two parlours warmed by crackling open fires, a hall, and a canopy greeting regulars as they strolled in after a long shift. Down in the basement, bottles crowded the cellar, while a mysterious floor hatch provided secret access to the bar.
I know what you’re wondering - how many rooms did they really need? Quite a few, as it turns out: the new Palisade was practically a mini hotel, complete with 15 bedrooms, two parlours, a plush dining room, two sitting rooms, a laundry, kitchen, bathrooms, and even a fire escape on every floor. A 1949 report found that much hadn’t changed, with the licensee and staff enjoying the comfier double rooms, and the second and third floors packed with accommodations for weary travelers.
Over the decades, ownership of the hotel passed hands as often as the tap was pulled. The iconic Tooth and Co. brewery took over the head lease from the 1920s, subletting to pint-pouring licensees. When the Maritime Service Board replaced the Harbour Trust in 1936, those frothy connections stayed strong until the 1950s before P.K. Armstrong, the on-site licensee, claimed the lease for himself. From the 1980s, the Palisade entered private ownership. After a major renovation closed the pub for seven long years, it reopened in 2015 with a brand-new swoon-worthy rooftop bar named “Henry Deane,” in memory of a city engineer (and, hopefully, a lover of city views).
Stand back and take in its Federation free style, with touches of Arts and Crafts - rugged stone and brick climbing skywards, tall arched windows, bouquets of timber detailing, and wide verandahs offering a sweeping view of the skyline. Inside, relics of the past abound: original ceramic tiles on the ground floor, timber doors and windows framing the light, and that legendary fire escape curling slyly around the west wall.
Through all these changes, the Palisade kept its spirit. Whether you were a dock worker looking for a cold one after a tough day, a local raising a glass to the city, or a visitor chasing sweeping city views, this hotel has always delivered a warm welcome - even if the wallpaper and bar stools have changed a bit over the years!
So, pause and imagine the generations who’ve leaned against this bar, swapped stories, and watched Sydney transform. Ready to continue your journey? The next round of Millers Point history is just a few steps away!
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